The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanx. Grim but wat would u have done different for an sps tank?

8 lamp Sunpower

 

[sondaar]

I might try a second purple lamp in place of an Aquablue but other than that it's fine. Coraline doesn't like a lot of light so it probably will die back some but it usually comes back.

Thanks Grim. Now I get to try and find a purple lamp local :mad2: Wish I wouldve found this thread before I ordered the new lamps! Would you tie it in with the other purple or the Blue +?

 

[NOVAcane]

Grim:

I have a 55 gallon cube tank: 30" (L) x 18" (W) x 24" (H). I want to keep an Anemone and some easier corals. I cannot find a 6 bulb T5 fixture to fit my tank. I am thinking about picking up a 4 bulb fixture and a 2 bulb fixture and just running them both. Do you think that will be enough light?

I was thinking about the Corallife Aqualight HO fixtures with 31W bulbs. They make a 4 bulb and a 2 bulb fixture. Will this work? What bulbs would you reccomend for this fixture. Do you have a better suggestion?

 

[johnatbhs]

Hi grim

On my 75 gallon hopefully soon to be sps filled tank i just upgraded my lights from power compacts to an 8 bulb T5 fixture. I think I may have picked out the bulbs incorrectly though.

I got 4 blue plus bulbs, 2 aquablue special bulbs, and 2 purple plus bulbs all from ATI. The only thing I dont like about this combination is that all my macro algae now looks brown instead of a dark green. I even pulled some out of my sump where it looked a dark green, and once in my tank it looks really ugly brown. What bulbs would you guys switch out to make the greens look a little better. Thank you.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim. Now I get to try and find a purple lamp local :mad2: Wish I wouldve found this thread before I ordered the new lamps! Would you tie it in with the other purple or the Blue +?

Blue Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim:

I have a 55 gallon cube tank: 30" (L) x 18" (W) x 24" (H). I want to keep an Anemone and some easier corals. I cannot find a 6 bulb T5 fixture to fit my tank. I am thinking about picking up a 4 bulb fixture and a 2 bulb fixture and just running them both. Do you think that will be enough light?

I was thinking about the Corallife Aqualight HO fixtures with 31W bulbs. They make a 4 bulb and a 2 bulb fixture. Will this work? What bulbs would you reccomend for this fixture. Do you have a better suggestion?

6x24 watt ati sunpower. The 24" lamps will light 30 inches pretty good. A tek might give you enough light for a nem, MIGHT>

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi grim

On my 75 gallon hopefully soon to be sps filled tank i just upgraded my lights from power compacts to an 8 bulb T5 fixture. I think I may have picked out the bulbs incorrectly though.

I got 4 blue plus bulbs, 2 aquablue special bulbs, and 2 purple plus bulbs all from ATI. The only thing I dont like about this combination is that all my macro algae now looks brown instead of a dark green. I even pulled some out of my sump where it looked a dark green, and once in my tank it looks really ugly brown. What bulbs would you guys switch out to make the greens look a little better. Thank you.

Pull a Aquable for a GE 6500K Daylight.

 

[johnatbhs]

Pull a Aquable for a GE 6500K Daylight.

Thanks Grim, sounds like a good idea, I had kinda thought about doing it after checking your website, but just wanted your second opinion, thanks again for the help.

 

[NOVAcane]

6x24 watt ati sunpower. The 24" lamps will light 30 inches pretty good. A tek might give you enough light for a nem, MIGHT>

Thanks Grim! It's amazing how much time you spend helping others.

What do you think is the optimal bulb combination for enhancing colors and displaying the aquarium nicely?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim! It's amazing how much time you spend helping others.

What do you think is the optimal bulb combination for enhancing colors and displaying the aquarium nicely?

4 blue plus, 1 aquablue and 1 purple plus

 

[yoccm]

Hey Grim - I am putting together a 300g DD tank and wondering if using a 60" 8x80w and a 60" 6x80w for a total of 14 bulbs is overkill? Perhaps just 2 6x80ws?

I am planning mixed reef - pretty heavy SPS but some LPS and zoos on bottom.

Thanks, Chris

 

[puffer35]

4 T5 48" Marineland Fixture

4 T5 48" Marineland Fixture

Hey Grim I have a question for my friend. I saw you gave someone advice on 4 T5 54W ATI bulbs. Will those bulb work on a Marineland Fixture? The fixture came with Odyssey bulbs 2 Actinic and 2 10,000K and they are horrible. I think they gave him used bulbs on a new fixture. Corals are losing colors and Hair algae are blooming! Water tested good. The tank is a mixed of LPS/SPS, Thx in advance!!!!!!!!!

2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aqua blue
1 ATI Purple Plus

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim - I am putting together a 300g DD tank and wondering if using a 60" 8x80w and a 60" 6x80w for a total of 14 bulbs is overkill? Perhaps just 2 6x80ws?

I am planning mixed reef - pretty heavy SPS but some LPS and zoos on bottom.

Thanks, Chris

if that tank is 30" front to back 12 should be fine.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey Grim I have a question for my friend. I saw you gave someone advice on 4 T5 54W ATI bulbs. Will those bulb work on a Marineland Fixture? The fixture came with Odyssey bulbs 2 Actinic and 2 10,000K and they are horrible. I think they gave him used bulbs on a new fixture. Corals are losing colors and Hair algae are blooming! Water tested good. The tank is a mixed of LPS/SPS, Thx in advance!!!!!!!!!

2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aqua blue
1 ATI Purple Plus

Yeah, be fine/

 

[snaza]

60x33x21 with 10 x 54w PM about 10inch above water. fan speed is 6v and 5 bulbs are 2 months old the the other 5 are 7 months. 5B+, 4AB and 1Fiji

Few findings;

1. with fan speed set to 12v lost about 10% par
2. with fans turned off lost about 10% par

thanks

Aaron

 

[The Grim Reefer]

60x33x21 with 10 x 54w PM about 10inch above water. fan speed is 6v and 5 bulbs are 2 months old the the other 5 are 7 months. 5B+, 4AB and 1Fiji

Few findings;

1. with fan speed set to 12v lost about 10% par
2. with fans turned off lost about 10% par

thanks

Aaron

Nice tank.

I found on the sunpower maximum par was with the fans at 7v. The main guy posting on the thread "It's about time to change lamps" found his long term output was better at 9v. Kangym is his screen name. He's done some fine documentation of his PAR.

 

[palyam]

Hi Grim,

How does the Aqua Medic Reef Blue compares to ATI Blue Plus? I need to choose between the two..

thanks

 

[yoccm]

if that tank is 30" front to back 12 should be fine.

Actually it's 36" front to back, 72" long and 27" high. 12 still might do the trick but if I'm going for 2 units anyway I could do 14 for not much more $$$. Thought that also might let me keep the fixtures a little closer to the tank surface for better PAR.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hi Grim,

How does the Aqua Medic Reef Blue compares to ATI Blue Plus? I need to choose between the two..

thanks

Don't know anything about the Aquamedics, go with the known lamp when in doubt.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Actually it's 36" front to back, 72" long and 27" high. 12 still might do the trick but if I'm going for 2 units anyway I could do 14 for not much more $$$. Thought that also might let me keep the fixtures a little closer to the tank surface for better PAR.

Flip a coin. Unless you are filling the sandbed with clams right out to the front 12 is probably still fine.